Back rest



M. F. BAYER June 14, 1955 BACK REST Filed April 9, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 M. F. BAYER June 14, 1955 BACK REST 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 wmmmwwwwmwwwwmmmm 51:11:15:llluva tlnillul l'lal:

Filed April 9, 1953 M. F. BAYER June 14, 1955 BACK REST 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 9, 1953 United States Patent Gfllice 2,710,412 Patented June 14, 19.55

BACK REST Matthew F. Bayer, Kenosha, Wis., assignor to Simmons Company, Kenosha, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Application April 9, 1953, Serial No. 347,782

11 Claims. (Cl. -59) The p s n in en ion r lat s to con r ble u n tur and is more P ticu arly i ted t a retra ble ba r r b d s udio uches and th l ke h ch r tended to provide seating accommodations when not in use as a bed.

In the normal arrangement of dual-utility furniture of this type, the bed or couch is usually positioned against a wall in order to provide support for the pillows or bolsters which normally constitute the back rest of the unit. Although this arrangement is satisfactory in some instances, it does not provide comfortable seating in all Cases use P llows and b r o p por i s e irable for sake of appearance do not in all cases reduce the width of the sleeping surface sufliciently to fonn a seat of comfortable depth. Consequently, it is desirable to provide a back rest which may be disposed far enough inwardly of one side of a bed to afford seating accommodations of comfortable depth utilizing pillows or bolsters of normal proportions, or other back-cushioning means, without impairing the utility or comfort of the bed for sleeping purposes.

The principal object of the present invention is to pro- :1?

vide a retractable back support for attachment to a'bed or the like so as to be readily adjustable from a position inwardly of one side of the bed to an unobstructing position which frees the full width of the bed for sleeping purposes. Further objects of the invention are to provide an improved form of back rest for furniture of the described type which may be readily retracted without dismantling; which maybe releasably locked in either its use position or its retracted position; which may be conveniently locked, unlocked, or shifted by grasping it at any point along its length; and which is readily adaptable to various types of bed-forming structures.

Figure l is a perspective view of a bed structure converted for seating purposes by the back rest of the invention;

Figure 2 is a partial view of the structure of Figure 1, illustrating the back rest in retracted position;

Figure 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary rear elevational view of the structure in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an end view of the structure in Figure 3, the retracted position of the back rest being indicated by broken lines;

Figure 5 is an enlarged plan view of the bed and back rest illustrated in the preceding figures, certain portions being broken away for sake of clarity, and the retracted position of the back rest again being indicated by broken lines;

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional plan view of a-portion of the back rest showing the disposition of the locking structure when the back rest is locked in its retracted position;

Figure 7 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the back rest showing the disposition of the locking structure when the back rest is locked in its forward, use position;

Figure Si a e larged sestiena iew t ken l ns t line'8--8 in Figure 5; i i

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of mounting for the back rest; and

Figure 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of modified form of mounting arrangement for attaching the back rest to a bed frame.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 8 inclusive, is a sofa bed 12 comprising a box spring 14 supported by suitable legs 16, an upper cushion or mattress 18, and a movable back rest structure for supporting bolsters or suitable back cushions 22 inwardly of one edge of the bed surface. As indicated in Figure 2, the back rest 20 is shiftable rearwardly from its normal, pillow-supporting position of Figure 1, to a position along the rear edge of the bed surface, in order that the entire width of the mattress 18 may be available for sleeping purposes.

The back rest 20, shown in greater detail in Figures 3 to 8, is preferably of tubular construction and includes a horizontal rail 24 which extends longitudinally of the bed surface for substantially the length of the bed, and is supported above the bed surface by a pair of crankshaped posts 26. The lower vertical portions of the posts 26 are swiveled in mounts 28 attached to the frame of the box spring 14, the intermediate crank-arm portions are disposed above the surface of the mattress 18,

and the offset upper vertical portions are swiveled in the downwardly bent ends 30 of the rail 24, as will later be described in detail. Releasable locking means 32, carried in part by the rail 24 and each of the posts 26,

I serve to lock the back rest in either the forward or rearward positions, and a movable cross-rod 34, disposed beneath and parallel to the rail 24, interconnects and serves as a common operator for the two widely spaced locking means 32 to insure their simultaneous operation, as will be described.

Each of the post mounts 28 (Figs. 3, 4 and 5) cornprises a tubular socket 36, secured to an angle plate 38 by means of a tunnel-shaped bracket 40 welded or otherwise permanently attached to the angle plate 38. A curved bracing arm 42, preferably of heavy angle section, is secured as by welding to the underside of the assembly of socket, angle plate and bracket, and extends forwardly and sidewardly on the underside of the box spring 14. The post mounts 28 are assembled with the box spring with both flanges of the angle plates 38 abutting the rear frame member of the box spring, and are attached to the frame of the box spring by means of screws or bolts 44 passing through holes provided in the flanges of the angle plate 38 and the bracing arms 42. Suitable washers 46 or equivalent spacers of thickness equal to the thickness of the lower flange of the angle plate 38 are preferably placed between the box spring frame and the forward end of the arm 42.

The provision made for maintaining the posts 26 and mounts 28 in assembled relation is shown particularly in Fig. 4. The lower end of each of the posts 26 is provided with cap or plug 48 which is welded or otherwise secured to or in the bottom of the post and in which a bolt 50 is secured so as to constitute, in effect, a threaded stud. The plug 48 has a downwardly extending spacer portion of lesser diameter which is journalled in a mating hole 52 in the horizontal flange of the underlying bracing arm 42. The bolt 50 is provided with a washer 54 and nut 56 to prevent withdrawal of the post 26 from the socket 36, and it will be noted that the spacer por tion of the plug 48 is slightly longer than the thickness of the flange of the bracing arm 42, in order to prevent binding of the posts 26 when the nut 56 is drawn up tight on the bolt.

The offset upper end of each of the posts 26 includes a tubular insert 58 which is pressed into the post and serves as a trunnion to journal one of the ends 30 of the rail 24, each rail end 30 being keyed to its associated post 26 by means of a screw 60 which extends through the wall of the rail end 30 into an annular groove 62 swedged or rolled in the insert 58. In view of the relative thinness of the walls of the rail ends 30, the screw 60 is preferably threaded through a nut 64 which is welded onto the outside of the rail end.

The back rest 20 may be secured in either its forward or rearward positions by the locking means 32, each of which comprises a locking plate 66, welded to the upper end of the post 26 perpendicularly thereto, the crossrod 34 and a locking pin 68 disposed on the latter in position for insertion into a selected one of a series of peripheral recesses 70 in its associated locking plate 66. The rod 34 is mounted on the rail 24 for limited vertical swinging movement, in order that both of the pins 68 may thereby be moved in unison into or out of the notches 70 of looking plates 66 at either end of the back rest, to lock or unlock the back rest.

More specifically, the opposite ends of the cross-rod 34 are each fixed to the free end of a short angle iron arm 72 which is pivotally mounted on the downwardly bent end 30 of the rail 24 by means of a rivet or headed drive pin 74 inserted through a suitable hole in the vertical flange of the arm 72 and journalled in an elongated cylindrical bearing member 76 welded to the back of the rail end 30 in transverse relation thereto. This arrangement permits limited upward swinging of the rod 34 about the axis of the pivot pins 74 to disengage the locking pins 68 from the peripheral notches 70 of the locking plate 66.

Since the lock-operating cross-rod 34 also serves as an additional back support for the removable pillows 22, the cross-rod 34 is preferably disposed on the front side of the rail 24. Furthermore, referring to Figures 4 and 8, the bearing members 76 are elevated sufficiently above the joints between the rail ends 30 and the crank posts 26 so that the arms 72 are inclined downwardly and forwardly when the locking pins 68 are engaged in the notches 70 of the locking plates. With this arrangement, the rearward thrust of the pillows against the cross-rod 34 tends to seat the cross-rod more firmly against the locking plates 66 and prevents inadvertent disengagement of the locking pins with their respective notches. Referring to Figures 5, 6 and 7, it will be observed that the locking pins 68 on the cross-rod are engaged with the middle notches of the locking plate 66 when the back rest is locked in its forward pillow supporting position inwardly of the edge of the couch or bed, and may be engaged with either of the flanking notches to lock the back rest at its rearward position, indicated by broken lines in Figure 5.

Swinging movement of the back rest 20 rearwardly and sidewardly from its forward, pillow-supporting position is preferably limited to slightly less than 90 degrees in either sideward direction by the engagement of stop lugs 78, welded in forwardly extending relation to the lower end of the downwardly bent rail ends 30, with one of a pair of stop pins 80 extending upwardly from each of the locking plates 66, as best appears in Figure 6. When the stop lugs 78 and stop pins 80 are so engaged, each of the locking pins 68 is aligned with one of the side notches 78 of its associated locking plate, and may be engaged therewith to lock the back rest in its retracted position.

A modified form of stop means is shown in Figure 9, and takes the form of a stop pin 81 projecting radially from the lower upright portion of each of the post members 26 in position to engage shoulders 83 formed by cutting away a segment of the upper end of the mounting socket.

To describe griefiy the operation of the device, it will be observed from Figures 1, 4 and that when the back rest assembly is disposed in pillow supporting position, the crank-arm portions of the posts 26 extend forwardly and the rail 24 and cross rod 34 overlie the bed or couch. The back rest may be locked in this position by the engagement of the locking pin 68 with the center recess 70 of the locking plate 66, as shown in Figure 7. By grasping the cross-rod 34 at any point therealong, and lifting it, the locking pins may be disengaged from the recesses, and the back rest may be swung to either side by longitudinal movement of the rod 34.

Similarly, the return of the back rest to its forward position is effected by grasping the cross rod 34, raising it to free the locking pins 68 from the side notches of the locking plate 66, shifting the back rest forwardly, and resetting the locking pins in the center notches of the locking plate. In this connection, it may be noted that the limitation of the sideward swinging of the back rest to an angle of less than ninety degrees, facilitates the return movement of the back rest by a simple enwise thrust on the cross rod 34, inasmuch as there can then be no dead-center position of the posts 26 with respect to a direct, endwise thrust on the cross rod 34.

The sideward swinging of the back rest is limited by the engagement of the stop lugs 78 with the stop pins 80, and when thelugs and pins are so engaged, each locking pin 68 on the cross-rod 34 overlies one of the side notches 70 of its associated locking plate 66. Releasing the crossrod 34 will then position the locking pins 68 in the recesses and lock the back rest in position alongside of the bed.

It will also be apparent that the disclosed back rest 20 will be useful in connection with other types of sofaforming bed structures. For example, Figure 10 illustrates a modified form of post mount 82 adapted for attachment to the dolly 84 of a so-called Hollywood" bed. The illustrated bed, of which only a portion of the dolly frame is shown, includes an end member 86 and a side member 88 which are joined by a corner brace 90 and supported by a leg member 92 including a castor 94. The tubular socket 82 is closed at its lower end to provide a horizontal supporting surface for the end of the post, and suitable means, not shown, such as the stud bolt and bushing arrangement of the embodiment of Figures 1 to 8 inclusive, may be provided to hold the post and socket in assembled relation. A pair of brace members 96 and 98 are welded or otherwise secured to the socket 82 in position for attachment to the bed frame by screws or bolts 100. Since the frame members 86 and 88 of the illustrated bed frame are vertically displaced from one another, the brace members 96 and 98 are con respondingly spaced.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present inven' tion provides a simplified and efficient back rest which is adapted for use with any type of bed, whether supported on a separate frame or having an integrallyformed supporting frame structure. The improved back rest is self-storing in that it need not be removed from the bed when not in use as a back rest, and is easily swing able to and from back supporting position to adapt a couch or bed for comfortable seating use. Moreover, the locking means provided for securing the back rest in either its use or its retracted position, may readily be operated, and the back rest extended or retracted, from any point along its length, by simple manipulation, in the case of the specific embodiment disclosed, of a portion of the back supporting structure itself.

The features of the invention which are believed to be new and patentable are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A sofa bed comprising a bed structure providing a sleeping surface, a pair of arms pivoted to said bed structure at spaced points along one longitudinal side thereof for swinging movement about a generally vertical axis and in a path disposed above the sleeping surface, an elongated back rest pivoted to said arms on axes spaced from and parallel to the axes of the pivotal connections of said arms to said bed structure, said back rest being swingable sidewardly and rearwardly on said arms from a forward sofa-forming position inwardly of said one'side to a rearward retracted position at which substantially the entire sleeping surface is available for sleeping purposes, releasably interengageable locking means on said back rest and at least one of said arms respectively for locking said back rest in its sofa-forming position, said back rest also being otherwise shiftable relative to said arms for effecting disengagement of said locking means thereby to permit said back rest to be swung to said retracted position.

2. A sofa bed comprising a bed structure providing a sleeping surface, a pair of arms pivoted to said bed structure at spaced points at one longitudinal side thereof for swinging movement about a generally vertical axis and in a path disposed above the sleeping surface, an elongated back rest pivoted to said arms on axes spaced from and parallel to the axes of the pivotal connections of said arms to said bed structure, said back rest being swingable sidewardly and rearwardly on said arms from a forward sofa-forming position inwardly of said one side to a rearward retracted position at which substantially the entire sleeping surface is available for sleeping purposes, locking means for securing said back rest in its sofa-forming position comprising releasably interengageable abutments on said back rest and on at least one of said arms respectively, said back rest comprising in part a cross rod extending along and for substantially the entire length of said back rest, said cross rod being connected to one of said abutments and independently movable relative to said arms for effecting disengagement of said locking means to permit said back rest to be swung to said retracted position.

3. A sofa bed comprising a bed structure providing a sleeping surface, a pair of crank-shaped posts swiveled on said bed structure at spaced points along one longitudinal side thereof, said posts comprising upper and lower offset vertical portions connected by a crank arm portion, said upper and crank arm portions being disposed above the level of the sleeping surface, an elongated back rest member extending between and swiveled on said upper post portions so as to be sidewardly and rearwardly swingable on said posts from a forward sofaforming position inwardly of said one side of the bed structure to a retracted position at Which substantially the entire sleeping surface is available for sleeping purposes, a cross rod extending along said back rest member for substantially the entire length thereof and having secured at each of its ends an arm pivoted to the back rest member for limited vertical swinging movement of said cross rod, said back rest member and cross rod constituting a support for removable back cushions or the like, releasably interengageable locking means at each end of said back rest member for securing said back rest member at either of its aforesaid positions comprising a plate secured to the upper portion of said post perpendicularly thereto and having formed therein a plurality of notches, and a pin projecting from the adjacent end of said cross rod in position to selectively engage said notches when said cross rod is depressed to the lower limit of its swinging movement, an interengageable stop means on said posts and a portion of the sofa bed with respect to which said posts are relatively movable for preventing rearward movement of said back rest member beyond said retracted position.

4. A back rest attachment for converting beds or the like to sofa beds comprising an elongated 'back rest, a pair of arms pivoted to said back rest and extending rearwardly therefrom, a pair of mounting members each pivoted to one of said arms and adapted to be secured to a bed along one side thereof to support said back rest and arms above the level of the bed surface with said back rest disposed inwardly of said one side of the bed to form with the bed a sofa, said back rest being swingable side- \vardly and rearwardly on said arms to a retracted position at which substantially the entire surface of the bed is available for sleeping purposes, interengageable locking means on said back rest and at least one of said arms respectively for locking said back rest in sofa forming position, said back rest also being otherwise shiftable relative to said arms for effecting disengagement of said locking means to permit said back rest to be swung to said retracted position.

5. A back rest attachment for converting beds or the like to sofa beds comprising an elongated back rest, a pair of crank-shaped posts having offset upper and lower vertical portions connected by a crank-arm portion, said back rest being swiveled on the upper vertical portion of each of said posts, a pair of mounting members adapted to be secured to one side of a bed in spaced relation to one another, the lower vertical portion of each of said posts being swiveled on one of said mounting members whereby when said mounting members are secured to a bed, said back rest, said crank-arm and upper post portions are disposed above the level of the bed surface, said back rest being swingable sidewardly and rearwardly on said posts from a sofa-forming position inwardly of said one side of the bed to a retracted position at which substantially the entire surface of the bed is available for sleeping purposes, inter-engageable locking means on said back rest and at least one of said posts respectively for locking said back rest in sofa forming position, said back rest being also shiftable relative to said arms in a direction non-parallel with its longitudinal axis for effecting disengagement of said locking means to permit said back rest to be swung to said retracted position.

6. A back rest attachment for converting beds and the like to sofa beds comprising an elongated back rest member, a pair of arms pivoted to said back rest member and extending rearwardly therefrom, a pair of mounting members each pivoted to one of said arms and adapted to be secured to a bed along one side thereof to support said back rest member and arms above the level of the bed surface with said back rest member disposed inwardly of said one side of the bed to form with the bed a sofa, said back rest being swingable sidewardly and rearwardly on said arms to a retracted position at which substantially the entire surface of the bed is available for sleeping purposes, interengageable locking means on said back rest member and at least one of said arms respectively for locking said back rest member in sofa-forming position, said locking means comprising a cross rod extending along and for substantially the entire length of said back rest member, and having an arm secured at each end thereof and pivoted to said back rest member for limited vertical swinging movement of said cross rod, a pin secured to said cross rod and projecting downwardly therefrom when said cross rod is depressed to the lower limit of its swinging movement, a notched plate secured to said one arm perpendicularly to the pivot axis of said arm and said back rest member, a notch of said plate being engageable by said pin when said cross is depressed thereby to prevent movement of said back rest out of said sofa-forming position.

7. A back rest attachment for converting beds or the like to sofa beds comprising an elongated horizontal rail member having downwardly presented ends, a pair of crank shaped posts having offset upper and lower vertical portions connected by a crank arm portion, the ends of said rail member being journalled on the upper portions of said posts, a pair of mounting members adapted to be secured to one side of a bed in spaced relation to one another, the lower vertical portion of each of said posts being swiveled on one of said mountingmembers whereby when said mounting members are secured to a bed, said rail member, said crank-arm and upper post portions are disposed above the level of the bed surface, a cross rod extending beneath and parallel to said rail member for substantially the entire length of said rail member and having secured at each of its ends an arm pivoted to the ends of said rail member for limited vertical swinging movement of said cross rod, said rail member and cross rod constituting a support for removable back cushions or the like and being swingable on said posts from a forward sofa-forming position inwardly of said one side of the bed to a rearward retracted position at which substantially the entire surface of the bed is available for sleeping purposes, releasable locking means for securing said rail member at either of its aforesaid positions comprising a plate secured to the upper portion of one of said posts perpendicularly thereto and having formed therein a plurality of notches, and a pin projecting from the end of said cross rod adjacent to said one post in position to selectively engage said notches when said cross rod is depressed to the lower limit of its swinging movement. 8. A back rest attachment for converting beds or the like to sofa beds comprising an elongated horizontal rail member having downwardly presented ends, a pair of crank-shaped posts having offset upper and lower vertical portions connected by a crank arm portion, the ends of said rail member being journalled on the upper portions of said posts, a pair of mounting members adapted to be secured to one side of a bed in spaced relation to one another, the lower vertical portion of each of said posts being swiveled on one of said mounting members whereby when said mounting members are secured to a bed, said rail member, said crank-arm and upper post portions are disposed above the level of the bed surface, a cross rod extending beneath and parallel to said rail member for substantially the entire length of said rail member and having secured at each of its ends an arm pivoted to the ends of said rail member for limited vertical swinging movement of said cross rod, said rail member and cross rod constituting a support for removable back cushions or the like and being swingable on said posts from a forward sofa-forming position inwardly of said one side of the bed to a rearward retracted position at which substantially the entire surface of the bed is available for sleeping purposes, releasable locking means for securing said rail member at either of its aforesaid positions comprising a plate secured to the upper portion of one of said posts perpendicularly thereto and having formed therein a plurality of notches, and a pin projecting from the end of said cross rod adjacent to said one post in position to selectively engage said notches when said cross rod is depressed to the lower limit of its swinging movement, and interengageable stop means on said posts and one of said members for preventing rearward movement of said support beyond said retracted position.

9. A back rest attachment for converting beds or the like to sofa beds comprising an elongated horizontal rail member having downwardly presented ends, a pair of crank shaped posts having offset upper and lower vertical portions connected by a crank arm portion, the ends of said rail member being journalled on the upper portions of said posts, a pair of mounting members adapted to be secured to one side of a bed in spaced relation to one another, the lower vertical portion of each of said posts being swiveled on one of said mounting members whereby whensaid mounting members are secured to a bed, said rail member, said crank-arm and upper post portions are disposed above the level of the bed surface, a cross rod extending beneath and parallel to said rail member for substantially the entire length of said rail member and having secured at each of its ends an arm pivoted to the ends of said rail member for limited vertical swinging movement of said cross rod, said rail member and cross rod constituting a support for removable back cushions or the like and being swingable on said posts from a forward sofa-forming position inwardly of said one side of the bed to a rearward retracted position at which substantially the entire surface of the bed is available for sleeping purposes, releasable locking means for securing said rail member at either of its aforesaid positions comprising a plate secured to the upper portion of one of said posts perpendicularly thereto and having formed therein a plurality of notches, and a pin projecting from the end of said cross rod adjacent to said one post in position to selectively engage said notches when said cross rod is depressed to the lower limit of its swinging movement, interengageable stop means on said posts and one of said members for determining said retracted position, said stop means being arranged to prevent the swinging of said upper post portions into the common plane of said lower post portions.

10. A sofa bed comprising a bed structure providing a sleeping surface, a pair of arms pivoted to said bed structure at spaced points along one longitudinal side thereof for swinging movement about a generally vertical axis and in a path disposed above the level of the sleeping surface, an elongated back rest pivoted to said arms on axes spaced from and parallel to the axes of the pivotal connections of said arms to said structure, said back rest being swingable sidewardly and rearwardly on said arms from a forward sofa-forming position inwardly of said one side of the bed structure to a rearward retracted position at which substantially the entire sleeping surface is available for sleeping purposes, releasably inter-engageable locking means on said back rest and at least one of said arms respectively for locking said back rest in its sofa forming position, said back rest also being separately shiftable relative to any predetermined point on the axis of its pivotal connection to one of said arms for effecting disengagement of said locking means to permit said back rest to be swung to said retracted position.

11. A sofa bed comprising a bed structure providing a sleeping surface, a pair of arms each pivoted to said bed structure at spaced points at one longitudinal side thereof for swinging movement about a generally vertical axis and in a path disposed above the sleeping surface, an elongated back rest member pivoted to said arms on axes spaced from and parallel to the axes of the pivotal connections of said arms to said bed structure, said back rest member being swingable sidewardly and rearwardly on said arms from a forward sofa-forming position inwardly of said one side to a rearward retracted position at which substantially the entire sleeping surface is available for sleeping purposes, releasably interengageable locking means on said back rest member and at least one of said arms respectively for locking said back rest member in its sofa-forming position, an exposed cross rod extending along said back rest member for substantially the entire length thereof and having secured at each of its ends an arm pivoted to the back rest member for limited vertical swinging movement of said cross rod, said cross rod being connected to said locking means for effecting disengagement thereof by said vertical swinging movement to permit said back rest member to be swung to said retracted position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 68,373 Martine Sept. 3, 1867 554,017 Bean Feb. 4, 1896 2,437,647 McLean Mar. 9, 1948 2,645,788 Knoll et al. July 21, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 103,404 Switzerland Feb. 1, 1924 

